Hearing aid: all about these prostheses

 

Choosing a hearing aid and adapting it to your needs can have a significant impact on your quality of life. That's why we give you all the advice to choose your device.

What is a hearing aid?

First of all, what are we talking about? A hearing aid is a medical device that amplifies the sound to improve or attempt to restore a person's hearing. It comprises one or more microphones, an earphone, and an electronic circuit.

That said, we will see that today's hearing aids are real technological tools that allow precise fitting by the audio prosthetist. Imagine even Google finding its way into your hearing aids through a translation app or telling you the best route to take in the car.

Advances in this area have made the devices very easy to use and have given people with hearing loss greater control over sounds. With time, awareness, and technology, the barriers related to hearing aids disappear. We are at a time when more and more people want to reconnect with their sound environment.

Before choosing your hearing aid

Do you need a hearing aid?

Above all, have a hearing test performed before choosing your device.

The purpose of this test is to have you confirm that you have poor hearing. Often it only comforts you because you had suspicions about your hearing and your family too.

Then you now want to correct the situation and buy hearing aids to hear and understand better.

Ask your hearing care professional for advice

Choosing your device can be made more accessible when you talk to your hearing care professional about it. The latter is a professional who practices the correction of hearing function deficiencies. He sets up mechanical and electroacoustic devices that make it possible to compensate for these deficiencies.

Depending on your profile, he will direct you toward the acquisition of a hearing aid.

So, you will discover that there are several models of hearing aids and that the choice is not so easy to make.

Models of hearing aids available on the market

There are currently different models of hearing aids available.

Several different names for the hearing aid

There are several brands of hearing aids, but their products are similar.

Hearing aids

– Ordinary BTEs (Behind the ear);

– mini-contours (RITE – Receiver in the ear or RIC – Receiver in the canal);

– ITEs that is only inside the ear (IIC – Invisible in the canal, CIC – Completely in the canal);

– the half-shell;

– and the complete hull

Personal amplifiers

There are also personal amplifiers, which look a lot like hearing aids, but aren't. To find out the difference and whether it's a good idea to buy one online, check out our blog post on the subject.

5 criteria to make your choice

– the aesthetics you are looking for;

– degree of your hearing loss

– your dexterity;

– configuration of your ear;

– paying agencies

Indeed, if you want a very small hearing aid, but you have too severe a hearing loss, an ear canal that is too small will not be suitable.

Similarly, if Health Insurance does not sufficiently cover the purchase costs for this type of device, you could review your choice and redirect your decision.

What technology do you want with your hearing aid?

Once you've decided on a model, the next step is to determine the level of technology you want. Although it may seem simple, this is a crucial step that can easily be overlooked. Indeed, the more technological options your device has, the higher its price will be.

Technology levels

The number of channels available

generally, complex hearing loss will require more fitting channels to increase the accuracy of your hearing aids. When we talk about adaptation channels, we are referring to the frequency settings (Hertz).

Hearing aid managers

Several managers are used to improving the wearing comfort of hearing aids. For example, a wind noise manager, an impact noise manager, a reverberation (echo) manager, etc. Note that the performance of managers is proportional to the number of adaptation channels.

Automating

The most efficient hearing aids will also be more automatic. That is to say, they will adapt to the sound elements of the environment. They recognize the environment (for example, in a restaurant) and adapt to it.

Hearing aids

In addition to technologies, certain accessories can facilitate the use of hearing aids. These are not mandatory for the operation of the hearing aid. They may include:

remote controls

• apps on your smartphone
• the possibility of using rechargeable batteries
• bluetooth
• remote microphones

Again, after explaining your needs, it is the role of the hearing care professional to advise you on these options and accessories.

Hearing aid prices

Either way, ask for inclusions. A purchase always has a price.

Thus, the price of the hearing aid may include hearing care professional fees, warranty, accessories, batteries, etc.

Of course, this varies from clinic to clinic. It is therefore important to know what is included in the price in order to make an informed and profitable choice.

What are the fees for a hearing care professional?

The fee is not limited to explaining the different hearing aids during the first visit. We will see later that hearing aids require an adaptation period. The role of the audio prosthetist is to guide you in this adaptation and make it a success.

Before choosing a hearing aid, choose your hearing care professional.

He will be your privileged adviser, he will motivate you and help you solve the difficulties you may encounter. It will be your partner for the lifetime of your hearing aids.

Frequency of visits to the hearing care professional

The lifespan of hearing aids can vary between 4 and 6 years. On average, you will meet with your hearing care professional 5 times during the first year and at least twice a year thereafter to ensure that your hearing aids continue to function as desired and to check your hearing.

Financial aid for the purchase of hearing aids

Additionally, some organizations may reimburse the purchase price of hearing aids. During your hearing test, your hearing care professional will tell you if you are eligible for any of the government programs for the purchase of hearing aids. These programs may include

In each of these programs, you will have access to hearing aids according to a pre-approved list. The level of technology is decided in advance, and it is up to you whether it is right for you or if you want to buy another technology privately. Some private insurance may also cover part of the costs related to the purchase of hearing aids.

Hearing aid adaptation period

As mentioned above, hearing aids require an adjustment period. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing aid fitting. It is characterized by a loss of efficiency, or even a partial or total disappearance of the auditory hair cells. A disorder of the auditory cortex related to sensory deprivation is also often observed. Knowing this, you will understand that it is not just a matter of increasing the sound level to hear again.

In addition to increasing the sound level at certain frequencies, the ear and the brain must be retrained to hear sounds again. There is often a correlation between the time that has elapsed since the onset of the hearing loss and the time required for the rehabilitation of the hearing loss.

Did you know?

People wait an average of 8.6 years before taking action to correct their hearing. It's as if a knee injury went untreated for 8 years, imagine the rehabilitation needed to get back to running?

Ideally, your loved ones should be involved in your rehabilitation process, as they will better understand your situation. Unfortunately, too often we hear from children or spouses who expect the person with hearing loss to be able to follow the conversation at the family lunch the day after the hearing aid fitting. Your audio prosthetist will be your personal coach to help you regain the quality of hearing you have left.

It is also important to have a basic motivation to hear better. If your family requires you to take a hearing test and wear hearing aids, it is very likely that your adjustment will be compromised. You have to get involved on a daily basis.

Any hearing care professional will tell you that to successfully fit hearing aids, you have to wear them. Not when you need it, but as often as possible. It is normal, the first days, to have a progressive wearing time. Soon you'll have to wear your hearing aids all day, as they help your ears from morning to night. It's a fact that your ears never sleep, you're in luck, you have to take out your hearing aids to sleep!

Maintaining your hearing aids in 4 simple steps

Daily cleaning to ensure its longevity

Caring for your hearing aids is quite simple. You will periodically meet with your hearing care professional for routine maintenance. In the meantime, it is recommended that you clean your hearing aids daily. Using a tissue or cloth, you should clean the earmold (the part that goes into the ear canal) and the hearing aid itself. The use of a hearing aid cleaner is recommended. This cleaning is simply intended to prevent an accumulation of earwax from forming in the device and impairing its operation in the medium or long term.

Watch out for earwax

Most hearing aids have a filter that prevents earwax from entering the earpiece. This filter should be changed periodically depending on the production of your ear. For some people, it will be once a month, and for others weekly. Fortunately, this is a very quick procedure (around 10 seconds/device).

Remember to change the batteries frequently

Your hearing aids run on batteries – no, they don't! A solar-powered hearing aid does not yet exist. Depending on the model of your hearing aids, you will need to change them frequently. As fast as every 3 days for small hearing aids or monthly for larger ones. Count a maximum of one hundred dollars worth of batteries per year.

There is also rechargeable technology that can be considered to eliminate the need to replace batteries. Most rechargeable technologies require you to charge your devices overnight.

Keep your device dry

In fact, this point is often overlooked: your device is electronic equipment. It is therefore sensitive to humidity. Using a dehumidifying cup containing a silica gel tablet is a good idea. This weekly operation will save you problems in the long term but is not mandatory. It is also useful for travel in the south, where the humidity is higher.

Change the filter

Stéphane Fortin, audio prosthetist and co-owner of Aures – Fortin & Gendron Audioprothésistes, explains in this video how to change the filter of your hearing aid yourself.

Follow up with your hearing care professional and your audiologist

In order to ensure that your devices are still well suited to your needs, you will continue to see your hearing care professional. It is important to visit him regularly after the first adaptation session and the follow-up appointments. These follow-ups are useful to ensure their regular maintenance:

– filter replacement;

– cleaning of microphones and earpiece

– change of parts;

– listening to devices.

If necessary, this will be the time to make some adjustments and adjustments.

Monitor your hearing to see if it has changed

Depending on your hearing care professional's recommendation, you may also need to have your hearing retested.

A new test lets you see how your hearing loss is progressing. Also, if there is a change, we can quickly correct the situation by adjusting your hearing aids.

H2 Your hearing loss should not interfere with your lifestyle

In addition to regular visits, you may need follow-up care from time to time.

If you start training outdoors, you may be bothered by wind noise. The hearing care professional can then adjust the wind noise manager, or simply suggest that you wear a headband.

That's why it's important to choose a hearing care professional near you who you can trust.

Did you know?

Normally, it is not necessary to change hearing aids when your hearing deteriorates. Your hearing care professional will give you some leeway to effectively correct your hearing loss over time.

The 3 Benefits of Wearing a Hearing Aid We Never Talk About

Hearing aids reduce tinnitus

Tinnitus affects 30% of the adult population. This hissing or ringing sound is not from external sound sources. Tinnitus is often accompanied by hearing loss. People suffering from tinnitus are often bothered by this phenomenon and would like to remedy it.

A hearing test is a way to find out if there is an associated hearing loss. The audiologist can check the frequency and intensity of tinnitus. He can also determine if an ENT consultation is necessary. When hearing loss is seen on the audiogram (a graph showing your hearing loss), a hearing aid is usually recommended.

Did you know?

When a hearing test determines that there is hearing loss AND tinnitus, the hearing aid performs two functions: correcting the hearing and masking the tinnitus.

Amplifying the sound environment masks the tinnitus and distracts the person from their tinnitus. There are also programs in hearing aids to mask tinnitus more accurately. It can be fractal music, white noise, or wave noise, for example. Tinnitus becomes less bothersome or, in some cases, disappears temporarily or permanently.

Wearing hearing aids improves interpersonal relationships

Wearing hearing aids keeps you socially active. You can continue to golf, ski, walk, eat out, or visit family. Social isolation is avoided as conversations during activities can be understood

Hearing loss is a nuisance for you, but also for your loved ones, who have to repeat themselves. Conversations are easier to follow and misunderstandings are reduced.

The simple fact of not having to repeat yourself to the people around you removes a big annoyance from everyday life. Many families are relieved and find greater harmony after hearing correction for their loved ones.

Being able to hear and understand better also makes you feel more comfortable socially. Your self-confidence improves thanks to your ability to follow conversations and have fewer repetitions. You feel younger and people are surprised by your participation in discussions.

Hearing aids reduce the risk of developing dementia

A 25-year study shows that untreated hearing loss increases the risk of dementia, disability, and, in men, depression. The study, published in 2018, involved 3,777 subjects. It demonstrates the importance of considering hearing loss as part of a comprehensive approach to health care.

The results of the study are partly explained by the social isolation caused by hearing loss, which sets in insidiously. Another reason is the decrease in auditory stimulation over time. Here is a convincing argument that can help you convince a loved one to take a hearing test.

Like an eye test or an MRI, hearing tests should be part of a health checkup. Since hearing loss can accompany diabetes, chemotherapy treatments, and heart problems, it is imperative to talk about it more openly with health professionals. Even if you think your hearing loss is mild.

To conclude, a hearing aid is a medical device that amplifies the sound to improve or attempt to restore a person's hearing. Hearing aid success depends on you and your hearing care professional. Choosing the right hearing aid and choosing the right hearing care professional is important. A good choice is made according to your needs, not necessarily the most expensive. The teamwork between you, your family, and your hearing care professional is one of the greatest success stories of hearing aids